Utah State and Nevada Hand Gael Softball Two Losses

Friday, March 12

Reno, NV

12:30 PM

Saint Mary's College of California

!at Nevada

Utah State and Nevada Hand Gael Softball Two Losses

3/12/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball

March 12, 2004

Box Score

Reno, NV- In the opening day of the Nevada Softball Tournament, Saint Mary's dropped two games to their opponents, the first to Utah State 3-2, and the second to host Nevada 5-1. With the losses, SMC is now 5-12 on the season, as Utah improves to 1-5 and Nevada picks up one to improve to 13-10 on the season.

The Tigers held the Gaels to just five hits en route to victory over the Gaels' softball team. Utah State scored three runs in the top of the fifth inning in game one against SMC pitcher Jennifer Eaton. Eaton (4-6) threw five innings, striking out six Tigers and allowing eight hits for three unearned runs. The Tigers got the best of the Gaels' defense, scoring all three runs on errors and wild pitches.

The Gaels' tacked on their only runs in the bottom of the sixth, when Claudia Williams' double landed Michelle Mathis at home, after reaching base when she was hit by a pitch. Then Williams scored as Jennifer Arnold singled, picking up the RBI. The two runs were not enough to catch Utah State, who went on to hold the Gaels to a 3-2 loss.

In the second game of the day, the Saint Mary's softball team faced Nevada, losing 5-1. Although the Gaels' opponent allowed SMC to tally eight hits, the Wolf Pack still scored enough times to beat them. The Pack took advantage of losing pitcher Lisa Bautista (1-4), who gave up five hits and two walks, by scoring four runs in the fifth inning and one more in the next inning.

Nevada was thrown off by Saint Mary's in the first inning, as Williams scored an unearned run off of an error by the right fielder, after getting on base following a single. The Pack retired the side before SMC could do anymore damage. Nevada scored four toward the end of the game, when The Pack combined for three hits, including a triple by Jiliane Hartfiel, to score four in the fifth. Then in the next inning, Nevada's Kristin Stith tripled to start off, and soon scored on an error by the catcher.

SMC's top hitters on the day were Eleni Papailias, who tallied three hits in the second game; third baseman Arnold, who had three hits combined; and Williams, who helped SMC score two of their total three runs on the day.

The Nevada Tourney continues tomorrow, as the Gaels take on the teams in the order of today's schedule, playing Utah State at 10:00 AM followed by the Nevada Wolf Pack at 3:00 PM on Saturday, March 13.